FOR the last several years, the electronic media has been giving full-time coverage to sex crimes in the form of talk shows and dramas. Minute details and dialogues are delivered clearly with children as cast in them. It is regarded as a way to cause awareness because “knowledge is power”.

Is the media doing its job well or not? If the aim is to make children aware of sexual abuse, then the fact is that many parents do not let their children watch such stuff. The only viewers are adults.

Does the media ensure that it is reinforcing the subject positively? Many times when a cetain topic is repeatedly over-discussed, it causes negative effects like new ways of molestation.

The media must show programmes which are healthy for the viewers. Sex crimes are more common in the West because children are more exposed to such ideas from a young age.

The more one is exposed to an idea, the more one will be affected. The government and media need to ensure that they must not deal with the audience negatively.

Laiba Muhammad Aamir

Charsadda

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2019